When Shreedhar started Maithri, he had with him Rs 1000, donated by an old and trusted friend. He attempted to find money for his work, and sporadically he did find people to support his cause. Subsequently, and eight years later, Maithri was registered as a trust. The first major donation came a few months later; a donation of Rs 3000, from a gentleman who was on his way to Saudi Arabia. This money was utilized to educate a visually impaired student.
Maithri went on to identify and assist needy children, and those that are differently-abled. The trust understands needy children as predominantly belonging to economically poor households or from broken homes. In both cases, children find it hard to pursue and complete their school term – poverty and violence, want and discord make it difficult for children to be loved, cherished and guided in their education. Maithri likes to create means and ways through which children would feel wanted and also get to complete their education.